Lisa Michelle is the founder and executive director of No Strings Attached Ministries. They are doing amazing things showing God's love to women in the sex industry and supporting women that have broken free. I am so in awe of the incredible ways God is working through her ministry, and I know you'll be inspired by her interview too.
How did you start No Strings Attached? Being in an outreach that went into the adult entertainment clubs was never on my radar. It took a health crisis, to change the direction of my life. I was teaching Bible Study to children at BSF, an international Bible study when I grew sick and had to resign. Laying in bed very ill, I cried out to God! What do you want from me? I'll do anything if you spare me of this illness. And He asked me to go to a Conference at our church in Mesa, Arizona. There I was led to a group of ladies that visited the strip clubs in Phoenix, and I ended up visiting my first strip club that next weekend at 42 years old, having no idea what God was up to! But my first night in I knew I had met my calling. It's hard to describe, but I knew God was calling me. What is No Strings Attached? No Strings Attached is a faith based, support and after care group for women who currently work in the sex industry. We visit sexually orientated businesses and bring handmade, special gifts to the girls working there. We build relationship and community outside the clubs and bars and help women cope with the realities of working in the sex industry. Sometimes, women transition out. But most of all we meet emotional, spiritual and physical needs. 66%- 90% of women working in the sex industry have been sexually abused as a child. Many times we work through the trauma of their childhood so they can find healing from their past. Could you share a story about a women y'all have helped? Sure, that's our favorite part of what we do! We have a beautiful friend that we met on her first night dancing. We met for coffee a few days later and asked what she saw herself doing someday. Soon after we were able to give her a scholarship to go to Real Estate School. She finished school and is working on prepping for her test now. She goes to church with her family and she is so encouraged by the ministry; she hopes to serve with us someday soon. Since the Freedom Tees will be gifts to the Royals, could you explain that part of the ministry? We call the girls who leave the industry Royals, because we believe Royalty is what each of us are born into (the family of God) but some of us lose our way and when we see a woman come back to the family of God, we remind her of "who she is". In Isaiah 62:3 it says, "You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God." Galatians 4:7 says, "Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir." When we choose to walk away from darkness and our sin, we are choosing to walk into the light with God into his family and it's important that the girls begin to understand "who they are" in Christ. How has God has changed you through No Strings Attached? God has completely changed my mindset towards the sex industry and has shown me places in my heart that were still bound up. I have grown in my love walk and have become more passionate about people intrenched in the darkness as each year goes by. Having children myself, I identify with each girl being someone's daughter, sister or Mom. And the men, that's someone's son they've been praying for for years! We meet so many that have grown up in the church that work in the clubs and they really appreciate us taking time out to come visit them and remind them that God sees them, He loves them and their welcome whenever their ready to come visit Him. If people want to know more, how can they connect with you? How can they help? Please go to www.nsagirls.org to find out more. And email us for volunteer opportunities. We have several church partnerships in San Antonio & the Hill Country so there might be a church near you involved.